Dunn considers ban on sagging pants

Teenagers with their "pants on the ground" could soon be in big trouble over the fashion statement.

Dunn council members are talking about whether they should outlaw young people wearing saggy pants.

At a meeting Tuesday evening, council members took the first step toward becoming the first city in North Carolina to have a "baggy pants ordinance".

The crowd at the meeting was overwhelmingly against the ban.

"What you are doing with this ordinance, you are saying yes, you are OK with seeing our teenage girls' b---s and butts but you just don't want to see young men's b---s and butts," said Dunn resident Elizabeth Credup.

"This should not be before our city council," said Dunn resident Joy Williams. "You are trying to take away people's civil liberties."

"It's just a fashion guys," said Dunn resident Thomas Kelly. "Come on, give us a break."

Speaker after speaker told city council members they did not want a baggy pants ordinance in their town.

Dunn's plans could outlaw pants sagging more than three inches below the waist.

"In this city, we have a situation that many people find offensive," said Dunn City Council Member Carnell Robinson.

The proposed law in Dunn is modeled after a similar ban already on the books in Alabama. Opponents here feel it is unconstitutional and unfairly stereotypes young African-American males.

"Throughout this country, African-American males and police are at odds with one another," said Oscar McPherson with the NAACP. "I think this is one argument that could potentially cause that to worsen here in the city."

In the end, council members voted unanimously to have the city attorney research and come up with an ordinance for them to consider.